The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Science. The lowest is 30% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Kennedy-longfellow
Kennedy-Longfellow is a regular public school within the Cambridge Public Schools district, serving children from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is an elementary school, not a magnet or charter, and it operates as part of a district that has recently made changes to its middle and high school configuration - though those changes do not directly affect this building's grade span.
The school is modest in enrollment for its grade band. Its student body is notably diverse, drawing from the Cambridge community. Roughly equal shares of students identify as Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White, with a smaller share identifying as two or more races. The data available does not include the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, nor does it include counts of students with individualized education programs or English learner classifications. A parent seeking a full picture of the student support landscape would need to ask the school directly, as those metrics are simply not reported in the available records.
On state assessment results, Kennedy-Longfellow's overall proficiency across tested subjects sits below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Middlesex County. In the most recent testing year, proficiency rates in both math and English language arts were below half of students tested. Science results, which come from a single tested grade within the elementary span, were somewhat stronger. Looking at multi-year trends, math and ELA proficiency have shown a wide range year to year, from the mid-teens to the low forties depending on the subject and year, with no sustained upward or downward trajectory. The variability suggests that results can shift from one cohort to the next.
Because the school serves only early elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism and discipline was also absent from the available records.
The school sits in Cambridge, a dense urban city that is home to Harvard University and MIT, a major biotech and tech sector, and a walkable network of squares including Harvard Square and Central Square. Housing costs in the area are very high. The median listing price for homes in the surrounding ZIP code, for instance, is well above national and state benchmarks, and rents are similarly elevated. For a family considering this school, the housing market is a significant factor - Cambridge's small land area and high demand keep prices steep.
The district context is also relevant. Cambridge Public Schools launched a universal preschool program in fall 2024, offering free pre-K to all age-eligible children in the city, a change that could affect incoming kindergarten cohorts at Kennedy-Longfellow. The district also restructured its special education delivery in 2022 through an inclusion initiative that moved students with disabilities into general education settings with additional support. How that initiative plays out at this particular elementary school is not detailed in the available data, but it shapes the broader district approach to student support.
Kennedy-Longfellow is a small, diverse elementary school in one of the country's most well-known university cities, with a student body that reflects the city's mix of backgrounds. Its state test results have been below the county average, and the year-to-year fluctuation is worth a parent exploring further with the school to understand what supports are in place. The very high cost of local housing is a reality for any family looking to live in the attendance area. What is not in the record - free lunch rates, special education counts, chronic absenteeism, and discipline data - are gaps a prospective family would want to fill through direct inquiry.
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